Beatles Paul and Ringo reunite

Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reunited on stage for a special performance at the Grammys.

The Beatles superstars performed Sir Paul's song Queenie Eye to a rapturous crowd including Yoko Ono at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.

Sir Paul also proved members of the Fab Four can still trump the Rolling Stones when his collaboration with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear, entitled Cut Me Some Slack, beat Doom And Gloom by the veteran British band.

The former Beatle also won the Grammy for best long-form music video for Live Kisses.

Seated at a multi-coloured piano with Starr on the drums, Sir Paul was watched by his wife Nancy Shevell, who sang along in the audience.

Afterwards Sir Paul and Starr held hands as they bowed and embraced as they received a standing ovation.

Earlier in the night the drummer performed his solo offering Photograph and actress Julia Roberts announced the band will receive the 2014 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award next month.

It was a triumphant night for British artists at the American awards show. Previous Grammy winner Adele won best song written for visual media for Skyfall, which has already scored an Oscar and a Golden Globe.

Ozzy Osbourne's band Black Sabbath won best hard rock/metal performance for God Is Dead and the Rolling Stones tied for the historical album with Charlie Is My Darling, from a documentary almost 50 years ago.

Daft Punk were the big prize winners taking home album of the year for Random Access Memories and their collaboration with Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, Get Lucky, scored the gramophone-shaped gongs for record of the year and best pop duo/group performance.

However, American rap duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis also won big at the 56th Grammy Awards. They took home gongs for best new artist, best rap performance and best rap song for Thrift Shop and best rap album for The Heist.

Some 33 couples got married live on stage as the duo performed their marriage equality anthem Same Love with guest appearances from Madonna and Mary Lambert.

The couples exchanged rings in the aisles of the Staples Centre as singer Queen Latifah performed the ceremony.

Standing next to Madonna, who was dressed all in white with a white cowboy hat, the Chicago star said: "By the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you married."

Speaking to the press after the awards ceremony, Queen Latifah said: "To be able to do something special for people, to change someone's life is what I was able to do tonight. I took it very seriously, I didn't enter into it lightly. It's not about TV or ratings, this was something real for me."

The awards ceremony, which was hosted by LL Cool J, opened with a performance of Drunk In Love by Beyonce and Jay Z.

Jay Z, real name Shawn Carter, took home two awards for his collaborations with Justin Timberlake. He won best music video for Suit & Tie and best rap/sung collaboration for Holy Grail.

Timberlake also won best R&B song for Pusher Love Girl.

Royals by 17-year-old New Zealander Lorde won song of the year and best pop solo performance while Bruno Mars won best pop vocal album.

Clutching their gongs after the show, rapper Macklemore and producer Ryan Lewis said they were overwhelmed by their achievement.

Lewis also revealed his sister and her partner were among the couples who got married during the ceremony. "You never think you are going to win a Grammy," he said.

"It is that thing that is so distant, it's the pinnacle, it's the apex, to be able to celebrate same love. My sister getting married tonight was so personal, I still have chills now."

Macklemore said of the song: "It is a message of equality, tolerance and compassion to end homophobia, fear and hatred that has been an institution here in America.

"I thank the Grammys for giving us this platform. The fact that radio and awards shows got behind it is a testament to how far we have come."

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